Bismarck – Results from a comprehensive study on the natural gas liquid (NGL) composition in North Dakota’s produced gas from the Bakken petroleum system was presented today to the North Dakota Industrial Commission. Scientists at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) conducted this research over the last eight months. It is based on data from over 7,300 wells in the state and included a review of current publications on the subject and simulation scenarios to predict how NGL content might change in Bakken produced gas over the years to come.
“The Bakken and Three Forks formations contain some of the richest associated natural gas production in the world. Understanding how North Dakota’s gas chemistry is expected to change in the coming years is crucial to ensure adequate gas capture infrastructure, while at the same time positioning North Dakota for numerous value-added opportunities,” stated the Industrial Commission in a joint statement. “Knowing the composition of our NGLs gives the state information to attract potential petrochemical industries to build new facilities that would utilize North Dakota’s reliably abundant and growing NGL supply in the manufacture of high-value products.”
Associated natural gas in North Dakota is comprised of methane and smaller concentrations of ethane, propane and butane which are commonly referred to as natural gas liquids (NGLs). The NGLs in associated natural gas offer significant value in domestic and foreign markets as petrochemical feedstock, electricity generation fuel, refinery blending components and heating.
“This may be the most comprehensive evaluation ever of gas compositions and how they change over time in unconventional reservoirs. This is certainly true regarding the Bakken, at least in publicly available literature,” stated Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority.
The study was funded by the North Dakota Pipeline Authority and presented to the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The Commission, consisting of Gov. Doug Burgum as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees the Pipeline Authority. The full report and executive summary are available on the North Dakota Pipeline Authority website at www.northdakotapipelines.com
Attachments: Evaluation of North Dakota natural gas completed